August 11, 2010

Americans, embrace the Celebrity of the Summer — the man who just couldn't take it anymore and got mad as hell. But please, do not attempt this path to celebrity. Everybody wants to be famous — except you, I know you, the reader who is about to post the indignant assertion that you don't want to be famous — and we can't have everybody freaking out all at once. That could get ugly. But Steven Slater, you have passed through the portal that separates ordinary life from the life of a celebrity. Dramatically, with the release of that jet plane escape slide, Slater has slid into our hearts.

JetBlue suspended Slater even as Facebook fans began raising money for his legal defense and demanding he get his job back.

He has quickly become a global sensation. MySpace photos of him posing on planes - one with a Bud Light in his hand - hit the Internet.

The linked Daily News article includes a poll, which is running strongly in Slater's favor, with only 17% of respondents picking the negative option. 9% would even like to see him on a TV reality show. And if you cast your eyes to the right-hand margin to the top-10 "Most Read" list, you'll find stories about Slater ranking at #1 ("Carry-ons were JetBlue flight attendant's biggest turnoffs"), #2 ("JetBlue flight attendant basks in celebrity status"), #3 ("JetBlue flight attendant Steven Slater is the toast of the online community"), #6 ("Molloy: Flight attendant does what we dream of doing"), #7 ("Molloy: Slater isn't first to pull one-finger salute"), and #8 ("Move over Sully! Workers unite around Steven Slater").

So what does this say about us, that Slater is the man of the moment?

What's the main reason we Americans are so captivated by Slater?

We're angry too and we would love to find a vivid way to express it.

We too seek escape but lack the fascinating detail that is the escape slide.

We too are sick of elitist, entitled people like the passenger and love the working class hero.

We too have felt dehumanized on airplanes and he cried out for all of us.

I have had to restrain myself more than once on a flight, either because of some moronic kid in front of me who would keep banging back in his seat (mom of course could not find it within herself to restrain her spawn) or the 300lb guy who beleived his personal space included 1/4 of my seat.

Too many people, either on flights or just in everyday settings believe they're in thier own personal universe and have zero consideration for anyone around them. This kind shitty attitude towards others is only compounded when crammed in a sardine can with wings.

Because Slater acted out for all of us. The authority in this plane had defected over to our side. That is called anarchy, and it gives the air passenger galley-slave class a false hope that Spartacus can win.

It has since been revealed that Slater’s mom is suffering from lung cancer and that the flight attendant had been commuting between his New York residence and her home in Southern California to take care of her. He was also a caretaker for his father, a retired airline pilot who died two years ago after a long battle with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

One of the major symptoms of caretaker or compassion fatigue is emotional outbursts and a high stress level. It sure sounds like Slater qualifies.

Am I the only one sympathetic with the passenger? Airline travel has become a dreary slog through stupid regulations. It's a wonder passengers don't lose their cool more frequently.

I suppose other elitist passengers like you who don't believe the "stupid regulations" should apply to them also sympathize with the woman who started this whole thing.

The regulations are there for a reason. They aren't arbitrary. There's a reason they ask you to remain seated with your seatbelt on even if the fasten seatbelt sign is off. The plane could hit clear air turbulence sending you straight out of your seat and into the ceiling of the cabin.

There's a reason they ask you to turn off your phone. The frequencies could interfere with the pilots'. Besides, I certainly do NOT want to hear you blather on your phone during the flight.

There's a reason they prohibit you from getting up and grabbing your shit while the plane taxis to the jetway. An active runway is dangerous. The plane may come to a sudden stop. The pilot may have to take a sudden evasive maneuver to get out of the way of another plane. Just sit the fuck down and wait til they say it's ok.

It's about passenger SAFETY. It's people who think the rules don't apply to them that make air travel even more of a pain than it already is.

He refused to obey the rules (don't stand up and start taking your crap out of the overhead until the plane stops). Those rules are for everyone. What makes him entitled and special? Does he think he is the ONLY one that is in a hurry. Does he think he is the ONLY one who didn't have a really fun flight?

He, the passenger, was probably and entitled elitist asshole jerk complaining and whining about things and rules that the attendant can do nothing about.

It was probably the last straw and I don't blame the attendant. I applaud him.

I often felt the same way when I first started working with the public.

"Yes, (you insufferable asshole) I DO have to look at your driver's license"

"No....I don't know who you are married to" (and furthermore I don't give a shit)

"Sorry you feel that way" (and now that I know you do, I'm going to go out of my way to irritate you because my feet hurt in these cheap shoes, I'm getting paid peanuts, my boss is watching.... and instead of just pleasantly giving me your fucking ID you have made a big scene because you think you are oooooh soooo special)

If I had had a couple of beers and a fun slide on the escape chute, I would have gleefully taken it.

"aronamos said... The same people who make "American Idol" top-rated and worship Snooki are capivated by this frantic little queen? I weep for this nation."

=========================I don't mind Idol because in every country that tried the Idol or similar talent show format you have tens, hundreds of thousands of young people, half with real talent - pursuing their dream.Wanting to see people that are entertaining, many very likable make it - is a very popular thing with the general public. No different than rooting in sports.

Jersey Shore - Never watched it, but remember that most of America grew up on Mafia, Guido movies. Since the Western died, dysfunctional Italian Americans took over in being a showpiece of mass entertainment. The Sopranos have been off-air for what, 3 years? Time for a replacement!

The Flight Attendent - I cheer on one level. On another, its some middle-aged gay drama queen trying to quit his job in the most flambuoyant exhibitionistic way he could thing of short of assailing the passenger with his butt plug.Honestly, American men suffered when they replaced so many good-looking young women as flight attendents and went with some pretty obvious middle-aged homosexuals like Slater who liked to travel the country, have sex with multiple partners, and keepeach population center updated with the latest disease strains. (OK, I exaggerate, but the people tracking the spread of AIDs back to patient zero in cities and other nations very often found a gay flight attendent as the original vector source.)

Tennessee Two-L said... regulations! Obey. From the airport on to flight ALL the rules are for your safety. Obey the Heroes!

=====================I think part of the reason the air travel experience has gotten so miserable is half the Heroes "for your own safety!!" rules are useless security theater. Much of the new stuff on planes themselves are useless safety Nazi regulations. THreatening passengers with arrest if they stand up while the plane is being towed by a 5mph tractor to a new gate because "You can only stand when the plane is at a full stop". ETc, etc.

If politicians and ruling elites hadto fly with lesser Americans and go through the same security, this would have been scaled back - but after 9/11, each year it seems more onerous regs hit.

Aww, come on now, Pogo. De man be cussin' de customers out, takin' de beers, walkin' off de job, and dey now makin' him a celebrity, raisin' money for him, want to put on de TV reality programs and all dat.

Dat's some discrimination right dere!

Sheeeiiit, my black ass took care of a gay guy with de kidney failure after my divorce (and wife's murders) but getting slammed for cussin' - specifically because I've had enough - is a common occurrence. (So's telling me it isn't attractive.) Despite all I've done for the gay community, I'm slammed as anti-gay, have to beg for financial help, and nobody wants me near a TV.

Much of the new stuff on planes themselves are useless safety Nazi regulations. THreatening passengers with arrest if they stand up while the plane is being towed by a 5mph tractor to a new gate because "You can only stand when the plane is at a full stop

And the reason these usless safety Nazi regulations are there because......Lawsuits and Lawyers.

If you spill hot coffee on yourself, you can sue for millions of dollars and then McDonalds has to spend tons of money to warn people that coffee is hot.

Some idiot probably stumbled and fell one time on an airplane and sued.....hence, the rules.

I always think I don't want fame. It always seems a horrible intrusion and hassle for a very private person like me. But I recently did a casting call with my dog for a dog rescue commercial that will run national for a major company. I have to admit the possibility of becoming the next Subway Jared is a little exciting. I have to admit though it would be the money and not the fame that excites me. My dog? She would become a total Lindsay Lohan type drunken sleazeball with me the tag along, mugging for the paparazzi.

Interestingly, "sleazeball" is in the spell checker and I spelled it wrong.

BTW, The casting call was in West Hollywood, a huge Gay enclave, but it was teeming with Orthodox Jews. Is there any two more different groups in America than Gays and Orthodox Jews, at least in appearance. Why they choose to live together is a mystery to me, but it was cool.

DBQ, just for the record, McDonalds coffee was way too hot. I know, I worked there in high school, and my tongue has a huge permanent crack right down the middle of it from a sip of that almost boiling liquid. It was before the lady spilled it and I was too dumb to sue.

Great! Yet another excuse for some of the regulars to open a vein and do a little stupidity-letting about the "evil queers with their special privileges and their diseases and their society-wrecking icky-ness!".

I don't think this has anything to do with a desire to be famous at all. When I first heard about this, I could immediately relate to this guy.

I was a cashier at a fast food joint (BK) in my youth. The restaurant was located in a mall. During the Christmas rush, the lines were so long, they extended out the door and into the common area of the mall - all for a fucking fast food burger. People were rude, obnoxious, and in a hurry - willing to lose it over a burger and some fries - and they took out their frustrations on us hapless cashiers. I wanted to scream at these people: "WHY DON'T YOU BRING A FUCKING BROWN BAG LUNCH FOR GOD'S SAKE." During intense rushes, a surreal feeling overtakes you. I. JUST. WANTED. TO. LEAVE.

The fact that this guy was tending to a dying parent is also very crucial. Having observed what my partner went through with both his parents dying too young, of cancer (dad) and mom (stroke) - I saw changes in him. He stated that having mortality in your face like that makes you ponder, much more deeply, how you spend your time, and how much risk you are willing to take.

Take this dumb debate and shove it?I don't want to hear it any more.My patience done run outAin't no reason to listen to these spoiled brats no more.You better not keep on jabberingCause I'm walking out the door.Take this dumb debate and shove it?I don't want to hear it any more.

Man, if there was an escape slide another universe where brats like Palladian have shut up, I'd slide out of here in a second.

Okay, so now I've read the full story and I see what pissed this guy off. Yep, it's a pain dealing with the public. And it sounds as if his life was full of difficulties and it sounds like he was a good son. Maybe this passenger was worse than any other awful passenger and anyone would have done what Slater did.

But what about the passenger? If we get to take Slater's full story into consideration, I'd like to do the same with the passenger. What was she dealing with? Nothing excuses hitting someone on the head and not apologizing, obviously. And in my world, nothing excuses saying "f-ck off" to someone you've just hit in the head. But something set her off, too. Was it just the last straw for her, too? Airline travel is awful.

And yes, I think the regulations are mostly crap. Take my shoes off? Separate me from my wallet, my carryon, my laptop, and my children so you can make me walk through the metal detector again, "holding your boarding pass this time"? Turn off your cell phones on the plane? As if there the plane isn't already flying through all kinds of radio transmissions anyway? As if the navigation equipment is using the same transmission channels as cell phones? I'll grant you--I don't want anyone actually talking on cell phones in the air, either, but let's use common sense here.

"Great! Yet another excuse for some of the regulars to open a vein and do a little stupidity-letting about the "evil queers with their special privileges and their diseases and their society-wrecking icky-ness!".

O.K., let's play a game:

Slater did everything exactly the same - no change what-so-ever - except he's now black.

Convince me he'd be receiving the celebrity treatment.

I swear, some people don't understand the meaning of the word "discrimination".

I don't know that it rises to the level of believing an urban legend, but DBQ was mistaken about a couple of details: McDonald's reacted by lowering the temperature, not by warning people (they were doing that all along), and the final award was less than half a million.

I have noticed before that defenders of the outcome in that case tend to assume that theirs is the only possible interpretation, and that if someone disagrees it can only be because they're unfamiliar with the facts of the case.

No sympathy for anybody here. The passenger was a jerk, so was the steward (what he would have been called in the old days when you only had stewardesses) and having a sick parent is no excuse - he could have turned this into a real disaster with his little hissy fit (proof for those who want it that Freud was right about homosexuality).

Just because he has Facebook friends doesn't make him the next Sullenberger. Sully really saved lives, as opposed to throwing a tantrum.

What urban legend? The McDonald's case actually happened and the results are well known.

It is the stupid and frivilous lawsuits that bring us stupid product warnings, caps on medicine bottles that can't be opened and other non functional products.

Many of the retarded rules that I have to work with in my job and the redundant paperwork are products of frivilous lawsuits.

Airlines have draconian rules precisely because we live in a Nanny State overkill, over cautious society where the government assumes we all have the mental capacity of 3 year olds and must be protected from ourselves.

So, if our asshole lady has had the last straw in dealing with rules that she thinks she should be exempted from....our flight attendent also had the last straw in being forced to implement stupid rules upon self important entitled elisists who make his life a living hell.

"Atheists have the same politically correct status as gays. Whereas, Christians are bad bad bad."

You're talking about the Richard Dawkins/Sam Harris-style atheists. I'm talking about the plain ol' athiests who ain't trying to have "In God We Trust" taken off of money or complain when someone says "God Bless America."

We get no love - not even from the "new atheists".

BTW - I did a post called "Sam Harris doesn't speak for me". You can look it up.

Yeah, maybe Crack's right about his game, except - black people would care and believe him, right? Does that count for nothing?

And I am not so sure that the black man in the scenario would be receiving as much condemnation as maybe he would have a few years back. maybe I'm still dreaming. I acknowledge that thinking the guy is a hero would not be most white people's FIRST reaction.

Good grief, shouting, Palladian is one of the sane ones here, one of the good guys. You don't have to share his orientation, or even be in favor of any part of any ostensible "gay agenda", to see that.

I said that the woman sued for millions. Actually the jury awarded millions and it was adjusted. I blame the juries as well as the lawyers.

That she didn't get millions is immaterial. The amount was out of proportion.

I also said that it cost McDonald's "tons". By that I mean that they had to completely redo their packaging. New cups BIGGER warnings different lids. I did NOT say millions. IF you are going to dispute what I say at least get it correct.

I wasn't aware that there was already a warning on the cup that coffee is hot.

This makes the lawsuit even MORE frivolous.

The stupid woman not only knows that coffee is hot. If she isn't aware that coffee is hot liquid, then she shouldn't be allowed out of her room.

She was warned that coffee is hot. Yet she put a cup of HOT coffee right between her legs. What kind of retard puts something hot between her legs and then sues because she got burned? Just because she cannot make a connection between cause and effect doesn't make the company liable.

It's like if I hit myself over the head with a hammer and then sued the hammer company because I got brain damage. DOH!

Some things are just self evident (coffee is hot) and to bring a lawsuit because the consumer is an ignorant idiot who can't handle a cup of coffee or runs with scissors....is frivolous.

What is really annoying is that these types of lawsuits are even allowed and THEN create all the stupid rules that annoy us and create impediments because some people are idiots. We really need to let Darwin's laws play out in their entirety for some people. Society would be better off.

Since no sane person will now hire this guy, he got his dramatic exit, and the passengers got a great story that they will be telling all their lives, I think it's about a wash. Everybody seems even. No reason to involve the courts.

DBQ, McDonald's coffee was too hot. I was maimed by it years before this lady.

Don't get me wrong. I love McDonalds. I worked there as a teenager. QSC, Quality, Service, & Cleanliness is not just a motto, it's how they run their stores. In fact, I've never worked at or seen restaurants since that match their cleanliness. It's also that level of management control that had the coffee at 185 degrees. That was the mandated temperature. That's too hot. Try it you want, but it will scald your tongue.

I have had McDonald's coffee when traveling, and I agree....it is very hot.

I'm sorry you hurt your tongue and that other people do get hurt.

However, knowing that coffee can be hot, I'm not dumb enough to just gulp it down without testing it first with a small sip or dip my pinky finger into the liquid. If it is too hot....add some milk, cold water, an ice cube or two, take off the top and let it set awhile, stir the coffee.....whatever.

I'm also not stupid enough to put a cup of hot liquid in my crotch.

I would think that working there....you might have figured some of those things out too.

I also remove the sun screen from the windshield of my car before driving and don't use my hair dryer while standing in the bathtub or while I'm sleeping....among other stupid warning labels.

This isn't freaking rocket science.

Maybe I'm just giving people false credit for being smarter than eggplants. Perhaps the Nanny State IS right. We need the government to wipe our noses and bottoms and warn us that coffee can be hot.

There's a difference between hot and too hot. That's why McDs took it down in temp. To stop injuring people. As far as adding milk to cool it down, that's probably why it was kept so hot to begin with. To accomodate those who don't like the taste of coffee and have to aldulterate it with cream and sugar.

Yeah. I have been a bit confused since the beginning of this thread why they gay thing was such a big deal to some of the commenters. I heard and read about the story several times before I found out the guy was gay. It was still a great story.

Yes, but if the guy was Black AND Gay, the gayness would neutralize the black discrimination and he would be getting the same treatment. A gay Black guy is just a gay guy.

The thing about blackness is the association with crime. This taints most peoples opinion about blacks on a internal personal level. Even Blacks do it. That's why as soon as they can, they move out of the hood. This is the primary source of remaining anti-Black racism and discrimination.

You can't tell me that Blacks would have the quiet discrimination problems they do, if they were as law abiding a group- especially violent crimes - as Gays, Asians,... well everyone else.

Of course, that part of the culture which glorifies the criminal activity of some Blacks is not helping them either.

Latinos have some of this too, but the strong family nature of Latino culture neutralizes a lot of it in our minds.

You can't tell me that Blacks would have the quiet discrimination problems they do, if they were as law abiding a group- especially violent crimes - as Gays, Asians,... well everyone else.

Do you mean if the crime rate was much lower than it is today among blacks, there was a very high rate of compliance with all kinds of laws, that there was not near the illegitimacy rate that there is today, there was not near the access to illegal firearms, and not near the same level of drug use? Is that what you mean?

Because if so, I can show you this place: any town in the Deep South 1960 and before.

Oh Shoot! But you are right afterall - it was not QUIET discrimination.

HT, you are a racist, suggesting that the only way blacks are compliant with laws and moral codes is under slavery.

Nonracists believe otherwise.

+++

Sorry you saw it that way, if you were indeed speaking in good faith.

No, what I meant is that there was a time when the crime rate was lower and blacks were living in terror, and even though there was a high degree of compliance with arbitrary laws, there was not the accompanying good feeling towards them that the original poster anticipated. I did NOT mean that the only way to have a lower crime rate is to live under terror. (You mistakenly thought I was talking about pre civil war times. I was talking about the time before 1960.)

DBQ: Say no more. Most of us have similar hangovers from past times. I am sorry the younger generation has reinvigorated the term though when they could as easily say a situation is "silly" or "stupid" etc, instead of retarded. There was retardation of sparks if I remember correctly when we tuned cars back in the day but electronic ignitions did away with that.

You have to admit taking the chute was pure genius. I’ve always wanted to slide down one of those slides.Blog post for my thoughts on this whole mess http://monkeybusiness1.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/flight-attendant-steven-slater/